Former Australian cricketer Mike Hussey heaped praise on Nathan Lyon after the experienced spinner yet again shone with the ball in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Lyon had a poor start to the four-match Test series, taking only one wicket in the first Test in Nagpur, but the 35-year-old spinner made a stunning comeback in the second and third Tests, as he snared 17 wickets, including a 11-wicket haul in Indore against India.
On being asked how long Lyon can continue in international cricket, Hussey said that the off-spinner can play as long as he wants and remains fit to compete while hailing his amazing longevity.
Mike Hussey told Australia’s SEN Radio: “As long as he wants really. He’s been amazing with his longevity and he’s still pretty young really. He’s got years and years to go, as long as his body keeps holding up.”
He added, “They always say spinners come into their peak into their 30s and maybe into their late 30s, it’s a tough art and I don’t see why he can’t keep going for a long time.”
Meanwhile, Hussey wants the left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann to partner Lyon in case Australia decides to play with two specialist spinners instead of three spinners in the final Test against India, starting on March 9 in Ahmedabad.
The Aussie batter said, “I have been really impressed with (Todd) Murphy, he looks really good. Having said that though, I like to have the balance in the attack where you’ve got one guy spinning it into the right-hander and one guy spinning away.”
He signed off by saying, “I would probably lean towards Kuhnemann, but only for that reason that he’s turning the ball in the opposite direction (to the right hander).”
(With PTI Inputs)
